Sheet metal forming machine



' May 13, 1941. -H R KENN DY 2,242,204

SHEET METAL FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 13, 1941.

H. R. KENNEDY SHEET METAL FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rIZZ.

Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,242,204 SHEET METAL Fomvmvo. MACHINE Homer R. Kennedy, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 13, 1939, Serial No. 256,019

Claims. (01. 153-39) My invention relates to that class of machines which are used for shaping and forming metal, hot or cold, and'while itcan be adapted to a large variety of production work, it is especially suitable for use in shaping and forming sheets or plates used in airplane construction. The purpose of this invention is to provide means for rolling metal sheets or plates when located on asuitable form, the roll being capable of oscil1a-- tion as well as rolling motion; to provide methwlo ods of suspension'for the said-roll; and also to provide for rapid vertical adjustment of the'said roll to suit the placement or removal of the metal.

to be formed. Improved means are also provided for varyingthe pressure of the roll on the metal to be formed.

In the forming and shaping of some typesof sheet metal, particularly the type known as .stainless' steel, it has been found that forming under a roll such as is illustrated'in this application creates a change in the internal molecular structure of the metal, with the result that when rolling on one part of the sheet a deformation is created at other points or locations on the sheet. Experience has demonstrated that this can be overcome by the application of heat tothe sheet, or to the roll, or both. This application of heat increases the ductility of the metal, and if the heat is applied by means of jets ahead of the rollthe result is that the heat thus applied causes local annealing just before the roll reaches .agiven location. In applying the heat and the roll tothe metal it has been found that there is a definite relationship between the temperature and the yield-point of the metal. A further advantage of the application of heat in forming is of a plurality of the flame jets.

trolling elements.

- merals refer to similar parts in the several views Figure 1 is an end view of the yoke and forming roll, the samebeing provided with means for applying heat to each side of the forming'rolland also applying such heat-to the metal to be operated upon. This mechanism is provided with adjustments to vary the location of the said heating means with relation to the roll andthe work. Figure 2 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1 and showing the application Figure "3 is a plan -view of a formingroll having. flame jets projecting laterally from a location nearl the end of the forming roll as well as in front of and be also varies the pressure derived from said spring. It also provides for raising or lowering the said forming roll to facilitate the placing or removal of the metal to be formed; This view also shows a forming block having openings under the work that the change in the forming of the metal" takes place in much less time than rolled cold.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide means incombination with the rolling process whereby the ductility and also the degree of hardness in the sheet metal to be formed may be brought under complete control by controlling the intensity and the direction of the application of the heat to the sheet metal, such heat being applied according to the requirements, either prior to the rolling. ,operation, simultaneously with the rolling, orvto a lesser degree the heat .applied after the rolling for the purpose of regulating the cooling of the metal and consequently regulating-the final hardness andductility after the finish of the rolling operation.

The construction oflmymachine. and its various modifications andg gdetails are illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar nu-- and flame jets located under each of the said openings. Figure 61s a side elevation of Figure 5 showing a variation in the means and method of operating; Figures 7 and 8 show a modified methodof attaching the pressure spring'to,the oscillating arm. Figure 9 shows a forming block in section with a sheet of resilient'material I21 between the forming block and the metal to be formed. 1 i

The various modifications of my device shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and Figures 5 and 9 are for the purpose of applying heat either to.

the forming roll 3 or'to the metal to be formed,

' or. both. In the form shownin Figure 1,.mean's are provided for applying heat tothe forming roll 3, one of the possible arrangements being 'sh'own. Attached to the lower oscillating arm M by any convenient means is a pipe 19 adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fuel.-

preferably gas, the flow being controlled by a valve This pipe I9 branches into two pipes vided with a ball-and-socket suspension and means for varying the distance between the said suspension ball and the said forming roll, which 8|, one on each side of the oscillating arm I4, this connection being made through the pivot pin or trunnion 83 of the levers 84. The said levers 84 are pivotally, mounted on a bracket 05, the latter being adjustable ,vertically by means of the slot and screw 88. The upper part of the levers 84 is provided with adjusting screws 81, and the lower part 88 of each is hollow and is connected to the pipes 89, extending downwardly adjacent to the forming roll 3. At the lower end of the pipes 89 are nozzles or jets 90 adapted to project a flame uponthe metal 2 to be formed at a point close to the point of application of the rolling pressure. Part way down in the length of the pipes 89 are additional jets 9I for the purpose of projecting flames against the forming roll 3 itself. The purpose of the pivoted levers 84 and 88 and the screws 81 is to provide a means for varying the position of the pipes 89 in relation to the metal 2 and the roll 3, so that the flames may be applied to the work at a preferred distance therefrom. If desired, transverse branch pipes may be provided connected with the pipes 89 and extending transversely across the roll and the work to provide additional heat and improve the distribution of the said heat. This is shown at 92 in Figure 2.

In the modified form shown in Figure 3, 2 is the sheet metal to be formed, 3 is the forming roll, is the supporting yoke, and 92 are the supply pipes connected with the encircling pipes I90, the latter being provided with the jets 93 as shown in Figure 2 and also with the flame jets I9I projecting laterally from a point near the ends of the said roll.

The further modified form shown in Figure 4' has the same construction as that shown in Figure 3, but in addition laterally extended conduits I94 and I95 are provided which have flame jets I99 projecting therefrom. These laterally extending conduits may' be either straight, curved-or flexible, as shown at I98. Controlling valves I91 and I98 are also provided.

In adapting this machine to use in connection with the forming of some of the new metals which have been developed during the past few years, ithas been found that the application of heat is an essential if smooth and perfect results are to be attained. There are a variety of ways in which this heat can be applied other than the way shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. For instance, a plurality of pipes 85 may be provided with jets 96 arranged to distribute the heat to the portion of the sheet 2 which overlies the block.

4 In my device as shown in Figure 5 the vertical pressure on the forming roll 3 is obtained by the spring I04, which is attached to a. supporting structure I20. This spring is provided with a clip I05 attached to its end, the said clip having a hemispherical depression on its under side, and has bolted to it another clip I06 being adapted to hold a ball I01 which is the upper terminus of the upper oscillating arm I08. The lower end of the upper oscillating arm I08 is threaded and is screwed into the lower oscillating arm I09.

The lower end of the arm I09 is forked as at on very wide sheets. This oscillation can also be operated by power, such as a crank and connecting rod. Integral with or attached to the lower oscillating arm I09 is a handle H3, and attached to the upper'oscillating arm I08 is a hand-wheel H5. When it is desired to change the height of the machine above the work, or to change the pressure exerted by the spring I04, the operator grasps the handle H3 and holds the lower oscillating arm I09 stationary and at the same time rotates the wheel II5 which so screws the lower end of the said upper oscillating arm in or out of the tapped lower arm I09, the ball I01 rotating within the clips I05 and I06. The modification shown in Figures 7 and 8 consists of a clip IIB secured to the end of the spring I04, a shackle III, a shackle-pin H8, and the upper oscillating arm 9.

The operation of forming or shaping the metal is accomplished by the operator moving the forming roll 3 backwards and forward at various angles, varying strokes and varying pressures, according to the shape which it is desired to produce. This device is especially suited to the formation of special curved shapes used for nacelles, engine cowlings and plates for the fuselage of aircraft, but is in no sense limited to this class of work. Experience has shown that shapes can be produced on this machine that could not be produced otherwise except by the use of extremely expensive dies, and where only a few pieces are required this machine can produce them where the cost of dies would be prohibitive.

The operation of the machine when equipped with lateral flame jets as shown at I9I in Figure 3is as follows: As the roll 3 is oscillated backwards and forwards as shown by the arrows I92, the flame jets I9I, projecting laterally from a location adjacent to each end of the forming roll 3 and yoke 5 and impinging on the sheet 2, provide for a preliminary heating of the sheet on each side of the path of the roll. It is assumed that the metal sheet 2 is advanced slowly in the direction indicated by the arrow I93, and the flame jets I9I result in a Dre-heating of the said sheet metal prior to the time that it reaches a position under the roll 3. The jets on the opposite side of the roll apply heat to the metal after it has passed under the roll and prevent a too rapid cooling. This gradual reduction of heat results in annealing of the sheet metal both before and after passing under the roll.

It will be noted that the flame projecting device I90 surrounding the roller 3 carries heat to the metal being formed simultaneously with the movement of the roller so that the metal is heated ahead of the work regardless of the direction in which the roller is moved; the sheet metal being formed is rendered ductile to a more or less degree according to the speed at which the roller is moved; more heat is applied as the movement of the roller is slowed down, and less heat in proportion as the movement of the roller is speeded up, with the result that the amount of heat applicable in relation to the rolling movement and eifect is definitely controlled in unison with the movement of the roller. Another new result is achieved by the novel structure shown, due to the fact that the flame projecting device is carried along with the roller and is capable of heating the metal when it is caused to arch away from the block due to the compression of the metal between the roller and the block or from heating eifects, thus preventing premature cooling and buckling, particularly where a heathaving mounted thereon a spring adapted to exert a downward "pressure, an upper oscillating arm connected to said spring, a lower oscillating arm telescopically connected with said upper oscillating arm said lower oscillating arm carrying a roll adapted to the forming of sheet metal; means for adjusting the length of the combined .upper' and lower oscillating arms to vary the pressure of said forming roll on said metal; heating means attached to said lower oscillating arm and adapted to be oscillated with the forming roll as it passes 'over the sheet metal to be formed.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination of an overhead structure having mounted thereon a spring adapted to exert a downward pressure, an upper oscillating arm connected by ball and socket means to said spring, a. lower oscillating arm telescopically connected with said upper oscillating arm, said lower oscillating arm carrying a yoke having a forming roll rotatably mounted therein; means for adjusting the length of the combined upper and lower oscillating arms to vary the pressure of the said forming roll on the work; heating means attached to said yoke and adapted to be oscillated with said yoke and forming roll as it passes over the sheet metal to be formed, said heating means including adjustable conduits adapted to vcarry fluid fuel and provided with openings whereby said fuel can be consumed in such a manner that its flames impinge on the metal to be formednfor the purpose of increasing the ductility of the said metal.

3. In a machine of the class described the combination of an overhead supporting structure having mounted thereon a spring adapted to exert a downward pressure, an upper oscillating arm connected to said spring, a lower oscillating arm telescopically connected with said upper oscillating arm, said lower oscillating arm carrying a roll adapted to the forming of sheet metal; means for adjusting the length of the combined upper and lower oscillating arms to vary the pressure of the said forming roll on said metal; heating means attachedto said lower oscillating arm and adapted to be oscillated with the form- 'ing roll as it passes over the sheet metal to be formed, said heating means including adjustable conduits adapted to carry fluid fuel and provided with openings whereby said fuel can be consumed in such a manner that the flames impinge on the metal to be formed for the purpose of increasing the ductility of the said metal. 4. A machine as of claim 1 in which the heating means comprises a flame projecting element attached to the lower oscillating arm and surrounding the forming roll, whereby the work may be heated at all sides around the roll simultaneously with the movement of the roll.

5. Ina machine having an oscillating arm with a roller depending from said arm and riding against a forming block; the combination of means associated with the block for heating the shaping surface thereof and flame projecting elements surrounding the roller and supported and carried by said oscillating arm and roller whereby the work is heated above the forming block simultaneously with the movement of said roller.

HOMER R, KENNEDY. 

